It's me, Buddy. I just got to have someone to talk to and I chose you.

You know that I was out on my own for a long time. I don't really know why that happened to me, but I sure do remember being really scared and tired and dirty and hungry. Those fleas and ticks nearly drove me crazy. Oh, and the poop that stuck to my butt was not much fun either. All of those mats in my fur really hurt. It was so hot.

I remember the day I stopped here. The female human who became my forever home Mom was filling a bucket with water and I went running toward it. Then I saw the human and I had to stop. I went running back and she brought the water bucket closer to me; then she waked away. Yeah! I drank and drank and drank. It was such cool water and I desperately needed it. After I drank, I went back and laid down between the two trees and the fence where I was partially hidden and protected. The female opened the gate close to me and I jumped up and barked and barked at her. I ran into the street where I had room to escape. She tried and tried to get me to come to her, but I knew better.

The next thing she did was set a bowl down and walked away. It was inside that gate, so I just watched for a while. Finally, I decided to see what it was. Oh my gosh! It was food! I didn't have to hunt it or find it or fight for it. Wow! Food and water all in the same day! That woman kept putting water in the bucket and food in the bowl. Every day, she tried to get me to come to her and the man did too. Also every day, the bowl moved further into the fenced area away from the gate. Sometimes, the woman would sit by that building in a chair and read while I ate. Eventually, she moved the bowl under the lean-to and I would eat there. One day, she was sitting there and I came all the way in there to eat while she was there. She put a funny thing to her ear and said something. The next thing I knew, that man came out of the house and went running. Oh no! He was going to the gate and I would be caught! I ran as hard as I could, but I didn't make it and they had me in the fence.

Another dog came over to the fence and we sniffed through the fence. We didn't have any issues, but I still would not let the humans touch me. No sirree! Finally, I let the woman pet my nose and it was nice. Then, she put a noose around my neck and I fought like crazy. She picked me up and they drove me off somewhere. I got a bath and my nails trimmed and my hair cut. I didn't like and I fought the strange people, but oh man, did I feel better!

Then, I was in the house with them. There was food and water in the house and it was a lot cooler than outside. The man and woman said I probably would have died in the triple digit temperatures pretty soon. I know that I didn't feel good.

So, what I need to talk to you about is four letter words. I heard that four letter words were either bad or negative and it confuses me. Since I have been here and I have gotten to trust my forever Dad and my forever Mom. I have learned a lot of nice four letter words. Things like food, safe, bowl, ride, Lucy, walk. These are all good things, right? Well, let me tell you, I have learned the hard way. DIET is a four letter word and it is not fun. I hardly get any biscuits and gravy any more. Just a bit of taste and very little sweet stuff. I love ice cream and chocolate chip cookies, but I don't get much of that either.

After we eat, me and Lucy have to take a nap. You know after I had been here for a few days and nobody beat me, the food and water kept coming, I had the first real sleep and rest I had had in a long time.

Now, other than the diet thing, my life is pretty good here. When it storms and I am afraid, I get on the human bed and sleep on my Mom's feet. Then, I am not so afraid of the lightning and thunder. When it rains or is hot or cold, I get to stay in the house.

I am learning things too. I know how to sit when I am told and I know how to lay down when I am told. I walk real good on the leash as long as I have my harness and not a choker collar. When I see Mom getting the harness and leash, I jump around being silly and bark and bark with my tail wagging. I love walks.

Well, I just needed to tell someone about that died thing. I could talk to my doctor, but I heard her tell Mama and Dad to do it, so I had to tell you instead.